Apple iRadio Apparently Delayed Over Licensing Negotiations

While Google has already released its Play Music All Access service, Apple’s rumored iRadio service apparently still hangs in the balance. The music streaming service has been rumored since October last year and it is yet to materialize, Apple as always hasn’t said a word confirming or denying its existence. Last we heard about this service, it was claimed that Apple’s negotiations with Warner and Sony labels had hit a snag which was causing the delay, iRadio service is rumored to be announced at WWDC 2013. According to CNET, which cites people familiar with the matter, Apple’s negotiations with Sony over song skipping rates is the major reason behind this delay.

iRadio reportedly works like Pandora does. These rumored negotiations are being done to hammer out a mutually acceptable price for songs that users listen a fraction of, then skip. It is not exactly known what demands Sony is bringing to the table and how Apple is countering them with its own, but one thing is for sure, the Cupertino company can’t afford any more delays if its ultimate aim is to launch a competitor for Google’s latest Spotify like music service. Both Sony and Apple have not commented on these alleged negotiations.